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l(No Model.)

D. C. WILLETT; HARVESTER BLEVATOR.

jNo. 550,086. Patented Noyrf Y19,v 1895,

PATENT OFFICE.

DALLAS C. WILLETT, OF UNIONTOVVN,

KENTUCKY, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO SAMUEL L. VILLETT, OF SAME PLACE.

HARVESTER-ELEVATO R.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 550,086, dated November 19, 1895.

Application led March 3, 1893. Serial No. 464,511. (Nmodel.) I

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, DALLAs C. WILLETT,

a citizen of the United States, residing at Uniontown, in the county of Union and State 5 of Kentucky, have invented a new and useful Harvester-Elevator, of which the following is a speciication.

rl`his invention relates to harvester-elevators; and ithas for its object to provide certain improvements in endless elevators of that type employed for elevating the grain from one end of harvesting machine platforms for grain binders or headers.

To this end the main and primary obj ect of the invention is to provide an improved harvester-elevator which shall be so constructed as to provide simple and efficient means whereby the carrier-aprons will readily adj ust themselves to the quantity of grain to be elevated, whether heavy or light, and whichever varies as the harvesting-machine is in operation.

With these and many other objects in view, which will readily appear as the nature of the invention is better understood, the same consists in the novel construction,combination, and arrangement of parts hereinafter more fully described, illustrated, and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of a harvester-elevator arranged at one end of the ordinary platformapron of a harvesting-machine. Fig. 2 is a central vertical longitudinal sectional view of the construction disclosed in Fig. 1, showingY different positions of the parallel aprons, the normal spring-closed position being shown in dotted lines. Fig. 3 is a detail sectional view on the line o Qc of Fig. 1.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, A represents an ordinary harvester-platform, inside of which travels the platform-apron B. At one'end of the harvester-platform A is suitably supported the inclined elevatorframe O, usually employed 'for elevating the grain from the harvester-platform apron to the binder or other attachment carried by the machine. I

The elevator-frame C is secured in position in the-ordinary manner by suitable braces, 5o some of which are not shown, and accom1no,

dates between the sides thereof the devices Jfor elevating the grain from the platformapron. 'Arranged between the opposite sides of the elevator-frame O is the lower carrierapron frame D. The carrier-apron frame D 5 5 comprises the opposite parallel frame-arms d, in the extremities of which are j ournaled the apron-rollers E. 'The lower one of the apronrollers E, journaled in the lower ends of the frame-arms d, has its shaft ends extended to 6o secure a pivotal bearing, as at e, in the elevator-frame sides, in order to pivot the lower end of the lower apron-frame, thereby leavingV the other upper end of the lower apronframe free to be adjusted in the manner hereinafter described.

rlhe upper one of the rollers E is provided with extended journals F, which project through and work in slots G, formed in the opposite sides of the frame C, said slots 7o forming guides and bearings for the extended journal ends, so as to accommodate the movement thereof, which will be more fully described. A lower endless carrier-apron His arranged over the apron-rollers E and is driven in the ordinary manner by means of suitable belting or gearing. (Not shown.) A corresponding parallel upper apron-frame l is arranged between the 4opposite sides of the elevator-frame O, above the lower apron '8o therein. The upper apron-frame F also comprises the opposite parallel frame-arms Z, carrying at opposite ends the upper set of apron-rollers M, over which passes the upper endless apron N, designed to work in a direction Aopposite to the lower apron, so that the grain will be elevated between the two aprons from the platform-apron in the ordinary manner. The upper apron-frame L is pivoted at one end, as at O, on the upper one 9o` of its apron-rollers directly over the movable roller` end vof the lower pivoted apron-frame, while the journals of the lower apron-roller in the upper apron-frame are extended, as at P, and work in slots Q, ormed'in ihe frame 95 sides over the lower pivoted end of the lower apron-frame.

From the construction just described it will be seen that the upper and lower apron-frames are pivoted at different ends and are therefore roo free to move at different ends, so that if the movement of the movable ends of both apronfraines is simultaneous such frames must always occupy positions perfectly parallel with each other.

Pivoted to both sides of the elevator-frame C, near the slots in each end thereof, are the opposite pairs of bell-crank plates or levers R, which are provided in one extremity with the slots y, which receive the extended journal ends F of the upper one of the lower apron-rollers E and the extended journals P of the lower one of the upper aprona'ollers lll. 'lhe otherperforated ends or arms of the bell-cranks lt are connected by the connecting-rods'S, which insure the simultaneous movement of both pivoted apron-frames. Both apron-frames are normally held closed onto each other, so that the two aprons work against each other or in very close proximity by means of the springs T, coiled on the rods S and bearing at one end against the supportiiig-brackets U, through which said rods pass, and at their other ends against. one arm of the bell-crank plate, which are connected to the movable end ofthe upper apron-frame.

Now from the foregoing it will be readily seen that by reason of the springs 'l the two apron-frames are normally closed onto each other, but will evenly spread apart to accommodate themselves tothe ever-varyin g quantity of gra-in bein g elevated. lVhen the grain .is fed to the elevator by the platform-apron in large quantities, the lower movable end of the upper apron is lifted away from the lower .fixed or pivoted end of the lower apron. This movement, through the medium of the bellcranks and the connecting-rods, causes the upper movable end of the lower a-pron to spread away from the upper iixcd or pivoted end of the upper apron, thereby providing means whereby the two aprons are still kept parallel while accommodating themselves to the quantity of grain being elevated.

Changes in the form, proportion, and the minor details of construction, as embraced within the scope of the appended claims, may be resorted to without departing from the principle or sacrificing any of the advantages of this invention.

Having thus described myinvention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, isf- 1. In a harvester elevator, the eombin ati on, with the inclined frame; of the upper and lower endless carrier aprons the frames of which are pivoted at di iferent ends within said frame leaving their other ends free to move, and connections between the movable end," of the two aprons to secure an automatic multaneous adjustment thereof, substantially as set forth.

2. In an elevator of the class described, the inclined frame, the upper and lower endless apron frames pivoted at diiferent ends inside of the inclined frame thus leaving their other ends free to move, the upper and lower endless carrier aprons arranged over said apron frames, and spring connections between the movable ends of said apron frames to insure the simultaneous automatic :uljustment thereof, substantially as set forth.

3. In an elevator of the class described, the inclined :frame having slots in the opposite sides near theirends, parallelupperand lower apron frames pivoted at different ends with in the inclined frame, thus leaving their' other ends free to move, apron rollers journaled at each end of said frames, the rollers at the movable ends of each frame having extended journals working in the slots in the frame sides, the upper and lower aprons passing over the apron rollers of each apron frame, slotted bell crank plates pivoted to the opposite frame sides and loosely engaging the extended journal ends of the rollers at one end, rods connecting the other ends of the bell crank plates on the frame sides, supporting brackets for said rods and sprin arranged on said rods at one side of said brackets and normally bearing at one end. against one pair of bell crank plates to normali y close the apron frames onto each other, substantially as set forth.

In testimony that l claim the foregoing as my own l have hereto affixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

S. J. M. WILLETT, G. E. 'WILLET'L 

